Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Family Jewels

Jenifer Smith: Jewelry Designer
The Family Jewels is a family-run business devoted to creating handcrafted jewelry - the kind of jewelry that makes the wearer feel beautiful and unique.

If you haven't noticed by now, you will very soon if you continue to read this blog - I love handcrafted jewelry!

Chainmaille certainly falls into that category. Taking a bunch of jump rings and weaving them into a complex pattern must take precision, determination, and patience. Jenifer has several chainmaille pieces available on her website. This is one of my favorites:

chainmaille jewelry
Copper Celtic and Chainmaille Bracelet
Copper wire is coiled onto a mandrel, cut into rings with a jeweler's saw, and then woven into the Kingsmaille weave, a variation of the European 4 in 1 weave, where every link is doubled. Wherever you would find a single link in Euro 4-1, you will find two in Kingsmaille.
Copper rectangle is 1.75 inches (4.38cm) long by 1.25 inches (3.13cm) wide
Adjustable from 6.75 inches (16.88cm) to 7.75 inches (19.38cm) in length.

I love this piece for its natural beauty and terrific color combinations:

designer jewelry
Mermaid's Tale Necklace
The pendant was made from 3 pieces of sea glass found on the beach at Martha's Vineyard over nine years ago. They are suspended from sterling silver bails and a dainty sterling silver chain that is accented by blue chalcedony rondelles.

Artist Statement
I am Jenifer, mom and Master Artisan. Several years ago, I developed an allergy to the cheap metals that are so often used in less expensive jewelry. So I was left with three options:
  • Not wear jewelry at all - not really an option because I love jewelry so much
  • Buy handcrafted fine jewelry - again, not really an option because it's so expensive
  • Figure out how to make my own jewelry, using materials that won't bother my skin
As you've probably guessed, I chose the third option. Over time, my skills and creativity improved, and I began to receive compliments, and inquiries like "Where did you get that?" and "Can you make me one?" So the seed was planted, and my husband and I have cultivated it into a successful business idea.
See full article.

Related Entries:

More Jewelry Designers to Dream About - 27 November 2005

Christie's Jewelry Sales Explode - 21 February 2007

Cherie Dori Fine Jewels - 23 July 2007

Call for Irish Jewelry Designers - 23 August 2007




Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com.


Read More...

[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]